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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to uphold actor Sanjay Dutt’s conviction under the Arms’ Act and his sentence of six years in jail awarded by the Bombay High Court. The apex court is holding final hearing on the appeals filed by convicts and the CBI in the case in which 12 persons were awarded death penalty and 78 others sentenced to varying terms ranging from three years to life imprisonment. Dutt`s lawyer, however, insisted that the 16-inch rifle spring, which was later shown as a recovery, was planted on the actor by the CBI. “The seizure memo mentioned an 18-inch spring. But when it was produced in the court, it became 16 inches. This was done because an 18-inch spring isn`t used in an AK-56,” he said. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had asked the actor about the extent of his contact with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, who is wanted in India for the terror attack in Mumbai. Replying to the query, his lawyer informed the court that Dutt had only attended a dinner in Dubai hosted by Dawood before the Mumbai terror attack. In November 2006, a special TADA court had acquitted Dutt of TADA charges but held him guilty under the Arms Act for the illegal possession of a 9-mm pistol and an AK 56 rifle. He was sentenced to six years imprisonment. Dutt was granted bail in 2007 on his appeal challenging his conviction in the Bombay serial blasts.

CBI asks SC to uphold Sanjay Dutt’s conviction in Mumbai blasts